Draft-controlling device.



H.J.GREEN.

DRAFT CONTROLLING DEVIGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10 1910 1 Patented June 13, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

SHEET 2.

H. J. GREEN.

DRAFT CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1910. Patented June 13, 1911.

2 SHEETS UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

DRAFT-CONTROLLING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 13, 1911.

Application filed May 10, 1910. Serial No. 560,429.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HosEA JOHNSON GREEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chattanooga, in the county of Hamilton and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Draft-Controlling Device, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in draft controlling devices for open grates.

The object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive device of great simplicity and durability, adapted to produce a draft up through the bottom of an open grate by entirely or partially closing the space above the grate according to the intensity of the fire desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a draft controlling device of this character, equipped with a slidable blower, adapted, when not in use, to be entirely concealcd from view and capable of ready operation from the front to arrange it in the desired position with relation to the grate.

it-h these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claim, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a front elevation of an open grate and a mantel piece equipped with a draft controlling device, constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the mantel piece with its draft controlling device. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4; is a horizontal sectional view on the line 4:4: of Fig. 1.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a mantel piece located in front of an open grate 2, and designed to be constructed of any suitable material and to be ornamented in any preferred manner. The mantel piece, which consists of a substantially rectangular upper portion and depending sides, forms the usual opening be- 1 tween the latter for exposing the grate, as clearly illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings. The mantel piece is provided at its inner or rear face with a recess 3, extending across the upper portion of the mantel piece and along the sides or legs, and adapted to be formed by pressing the material outward, as indicated in the accompanying drawings, when the mantel piece is constructed of metal. The recess 3 receives a slidable draft controlling blower 4 of substantially rectangular form, designed to be constructed of metal, asbestos, or any other suitable material, and having its side edges arranged in vertical ways, formed by vertical guiding flanges 5, projecting inwardly from the side walls of the recess 3, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The vertically movable blower, which slides freely in the vertical ways, is adapted to be arranged at different elevations to entirely or partially close the space above the grate for causing a draft through the bottom of the grate. By raising the lower edge of the blower more or less above the grate, the draft may be checked and controlled, and the fire may be regulated as desired. Then the blower is raised to the limit of its upward movement, its lower edge lies above the lower edge of the top portion of the mantel piece, and it is entirely concealed from view from the front.

The blower is raised and lowered by means of a flexible connection 6, consisting of twisted strands of wire, a cord, a chain, or the like and arranged on central and side pulleys 7 and 8, forming rotary guiding means for the flexible connection and located at the top of the recess 3. The pulleys, which are grooved to receive the flexible connections, are mounted on suitable pivots or spindles, and they may consist of sprocket wheels, when a chain is employed as a flexible connection. One end of the flexible connection is attached to the upper portion of the slidable blower at the center thereof, and the other end is secured to a catch, consisting of an inner plate or member 9 an exterior knob or handle portion 10, and a connecting stem or shank l1, operating in a vertical slot 12 of one of the sides or legs of the mantel piece and movable into and out of inclined notches 13, extending upwardly and outwardly from the outer side of the slot 12, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The notches are arranged at intervals, and any desired number may be employed to secure the necessary adjustment of the slidable blower. The catch is readily engaged with and disengaged from the notches of the mantel piece, and the blower may be quickly changed from one position to another. Owing to the great simplicity of the draft controlling device there is no liability of its getting out of order, and the blower will be sufliciently loose in the ways to enable it to slide freely. It may, however, be equipped with suitable antifriction devices to operate in the ways.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to sesure by Letters Patent, is

A device of the class described including a mantel piece consisting of an upper portion and depending sides and provided at its inner face with a recess extending across the upper portion and along the sides at the inner edges thereof, said mantel being provid'ed at one side with a vertical slot and having notches at intervals at one edge of the slot, vertical flanges arranged at opposite sides of the mantel piece and extending inwardly at the said recess and forming opposite ways, a vertically movable blower slidable in the ways, central and side guide pulleys mounted in the recess of the mantel at the top thereof, the side pulley being located above the plane of the said slot, a flexible connection arranged on the said pulleys and secured to the blower, and a catch consisting of an inner plate connected to the other end of the flexible connection, and an exterior handle having a shank extending through the slot and secured to the plate and movable into and out of the notches to secure the blower in its vertical adjustment.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aifixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HOSEA JOHNSON GREEN.

Witnesses:

L. F. WILKERSON, ETHELDA JOHNSTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. i 

